JC wasn't entirely certain how the decision had been made for the staff to have a holiday, or a weekend, or whatever name they wanted to use for days off work. Or at least mostly: Gord had grumbled bitterly about still having to do rounds, even if he had nothing else to do.

Erica's guess was that it was a window in which they were reasonably sure that their seven captive faelings knew what to do and would do it, but before their seven captive faelings metamorphosed and might no longer be any use for garden work or cooking or housework. It made as much sense as any other possibility.

While JC was sure that the outside trio were grateful to not have Barry's supervision, and the kitchen pair likewise Felix's—though Isabel personally, if intermittently, was probably not much improvement—it was wearing on her nerves badly. With time off, all four were hanging around the house a lot, mainly in their own rooms or in their lounge.

Trying to clean with them underfoot was bad enough...

Lloyd, lounging on the couch with his feet braced against the coffee table, of course couldn't be bothered to move and give her clear access to sweep.

This has got to be deliberate, she thought with a sigh. They're setting me up, I swear it.

To reach, she had to turn her back to the small table, where Barry and Felix had a card game in progress between them, and lean forward.

With Lloyd in front and able to see her face, she did her best, when she felt a hand grope her bottom, not to let her full reaction show; she glanced behind her, and found without surprise that both were to all appearances engrossed in their game.

Right, like there's a ghost doing it. And like a hand that big is going to be Felix, not Barry. Why do they care, anyway? It's not like I'm going to run and tell Isabel that they're molesting the lab rats.

No wonder Zach almost decked him before Isabel moved him. No wonder Des warned me to watch his hands. At least outside they have room to run away, and Des and Suze are smart enough to follow Ali's lead on that one. How am I supposed to even dodge without making a huge issue of it that's ultimately going to get me in more trouble than it will them?

I need a bath in bleach.

She finished sweeping and dumped the contents of the dustpan into the garbage bag before tying it off and leaving the room. Behind her, she heard Felix laugh and Barry snarl a profanity.

She'd already done their individual rooms, grateful that Gord was out. To finish that floor, she only needed to bring back their clothes once they were dry, so she went upstairs.

As usual, there was no sign of either wizard. Presumably they were in their private rooms doing whatever wizards did while waiting for their test subjects to progress to the next phase. Or they were in the round outbuilding that the four human men referred to derisively as the 'boom-room,' into which the seven faelings were absolutely forbidden to go. That meant JC had every intention of doing so, but there had been other priorities. Besides, there could be extra defences or simply danger in the location used by wizards for elaborate spells that they preferred to keep out of their living space and in a building designed for that purpose. But she really did want to know what was in there and whether there might be anything of use to them.

Next phase, though... that was a fear hanging over all seven, as much of being separated as of changing further, though it was reassuring to know that locks didn't work against JC and that Alison could reach them at least to talk. In some ways, JC thought it would be better for it to just happen already, so they could stop worrying and wondering. Quite possibly, the others would turn up abilities that would help them.

Not that they'd made much progress so far.

Stop that. You now have information. Aside from each other, that's the most valuable thing of all. And the bad guys all think we're amnesiac and docile at this point, which is another huge advantage. Be patient.

She cleaned the top floor, and took a basket of laundry down to Theo.

Midnight meals meant they could skip the risky passing of food during the day; JC didn't feel any particular hunger until around twilight, and the clean food provided with supper was enough to hold her until they could go in search of something more.

Theo gave her a quick smile and a one-armed hug, then handed her a basket of neatly folded clothing and towels in trade.

The towels went into the closet on the second floor, and she took the basket with the clothes in it to the lounge.

The card game had ended, and there was no sign of Felix; instead, Barry was building a house of cards on the table where they'd been playing, while Lloyd was still reading.

With Lloyd on the near end of the couch, she had to step around the coffee table to reach the far end so she could unload the clothes, allowing them to take their own. She raised the basket and half-turned, manoeuvring it so it wouldn't hit Barry or his cards.

A particularly rude finger goosed her from Lloyd's direction, and made her jump—almost made her yelp, though she choked it back barely in time. The basket struck one end of the house of cards, and collapsed the whole thing.

“Oh, you stupid little fairy bitch!” Barry rose to his full height, still taller than her and much heavier, expression darkening.

She didn't even think about it: she seized his wrist before his hand connected with her cheek, and held it effortlessly.

I'm putting up with you getting your jollies, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let you hit me on top of everything else!

She put every bit of her anger behind her glare as she met his gaze icily. He jerked at her grasp, with no more success than she'd had against his a lifetime ago; she held on long enough to make it very clear that she could, then let go and went back to what she'd been doing.

He spat a couple more insults at her, rubbing his wrist with his other hand, while Lloyd snickered.

Only once she was out of the room with the basket empty did the reaction set in. She set the basket carefully on the floor, and leaned against the wall.

How did I do that?

*Jace?* Alison said. *What's wrong?*

*Barry just tried to hit me.*

*He what? Are you okay?* JC got the distinct sense of mass alarm, once Alison belatedly relayed what she'd said.

*Yeah. I caught his hand somehow. I can't catch a freaking ball even if I can see it coming, but I caught his hand before he touched me before I even realized what he was doing. And he couldn't get away. I didn't even drop the laundry basket in my other hand or lose the clothes out of it. How in hell did I do that?*

*Well, we knew we felt stronger and all. Add quick reflexes to the list, I guess. He didn't try again, did he?*

*No, just called me names and left.*

*Zach says, I've seen you fumble balls of all sizes but I'm glad you didn't this time, otherwise I'd have to go looking for Barry and beat the crap out of him even if it pisses Isabel off. Zach, the protective instincts are wonderful and all, but a bit counterproductive if we want them to keep believing that we have no memories. Well, true, we could still look out for each other with no memories. Theo says, that connection is probably also supposed to be breaking down, otherwise they'd be expecting trouble over separating us.*

*Thanks, Zach, but I'm all right, really. Just a bit shaken up. How one attempt at physical violence feels that much more immediate than everything else they've put us through, I don't know, but it does.*

*It probably feels more immediate because it is. It's a threat to your safety right now, this minute, not a general overall what-the-hell-is-happening-to-us predicament, and it's readily understandable, not confusing or ambiguous at all. Why don't you run back downstairs and collect a couple of hugs and see if that makes you feel better?*

*Good idea.*

She took the empty basket with her.

Her friends were waiting in the kitchen, though trying not to look like they were in case someone came in; Zach and Erica both abandoned food preparations, and Theo left off washing dishes. Erica and Theo each gave her a hug that really did go a long way to helping her feel more grounded again. Zach cupped a hand around her jaw, eyes inspecting her face for any sign of injury; JC held still, let him reassure himself that all was well. His hug was absolutely fierce, halfway took her breath away, but that was just worry for her.

With Zach's long history of being the valiant knight arriving to save the women and children, plus his own incident involving Barry, she was actually rather impressed that he was keeping his temper under control as well as he was.

They all had work to do still, so they only had a few minutes before they had to scatter back to that.

It did help enormously, though, and JC asked Alison to tell them that.

Theo kissed her cheek before turning back to the sink.

How Theo could have both hands in water so much of the day, between the laundry and the dishes, and show no trace of it on those smooth ivory hands or any damage to the bright blue nails, JC had no idea. That much water should have at best meant dry skin afterwards, if not intense pruning of fingers during. She knew that from personal experience.

It felt like a particularly long day, but finally twilight came and they were sent back to their own cage.

Alison and Des and Suzi all gave JC hugs as well, once they were alone.

*Bet I could break that asshole's neck in his bed without anyone ever catching me,* Zach grumbled, while they were eating the small safe bit of supper.

*Let's keep that as a reserve option, shall we?* Theo said.

They were all becoming accustomed enough to Alison passing on what each said that, other than conversations being a bit slower, it was starting to feel more natural and less awkward, and JC could even forget at moments that it was all via Alison.

*What's the plan for tonight?* Suzi asked, tactfully changing the subject. *The info you got last night on how islands work is going to come in handy if we get a chance to sabotage systems without getting caught or killing ourselves. And now we know that even if the collars would let us in range of the permanent Gate, we're stuck because we don't know how to open it. And we have no clue how to make a temporary one. But we don't know how many more nights we're going to be able to get away with this. What do we most need to know?*

*We most need Isabel's journal,* JC said. *But I haven't had a clear shot at reaching it again, with her all over the place supervising everyone. That'll have the specifics about us and probably what they're planning to do. But that means being in her sitting room, with only her bedroom door between me and her, while I open the door to her study and turn a light on and read whatever she's written.*

*I'm quiet,* Des said. *And I don't need the light, whatever comes in the window should be enough unless she's writing with something light or really tiny.*

*Basic blue ink on white, and her handwriting's pretty legible.*

*Then how about you stay in there just long enough to open the door and otherwise let me do it? Even if she gets up, if the door's closed she shouldn't notice anything. We're only screwed if she does an inspection, but then, if she does that while we're out we're screwed no matter what.*

*That's really risky,* Theo said uneasily. *Can we think of something during the day instead? Distract her away from the house?*

*With all four of the others off work and underfoot?* Erica said. *Even if they don't generally go up to the third floor, there are still the wizards to think about and they certainly are on the third floor as often as they are in the boom-room, too irregularly to plan around.*

*I really think we need to try,* JC said. *There was a lot more in it than I could write down when I first looked, and I was reading so fast and understood so little that a lot of it kind of blurred, but it was important. Now we know more about what to look for in it. If there's any problem, we'll yell. If the rest of you are apparently here and asleep, at least maybe it'll be only Des and I who get in trouble if something goes wrong.*

*Don't get caught,* Suzi said. *Please, please, don't get caught. The thought of what they might do if they realize you still remember and are looking for a way out terrifies me.*

*You aren't the only one,* Des sighed. *If I thought anyone had a better chance or that this wasn't necessary, I'd be happier not doing it. Believe me, I'm just not that brave. But I want to go home to Ramses and Ryu and work on Max's computer and then hang out for Chinese food and make fun of terrible movies with him and Kay and Theo. 'Cause I don't think those two are going to care whether we're male humans or female fae or hermaphrodite grey aliens.*

*No, they won't care,* Theo said, and there was a sad, homesick feeling at the same time that Alison was relaying it. *Be careful.*

They cleaned up and settled down to catnap for a while, waiting for the house to quiet down and everyone in it to fall asleep.

Eventually, someone nudged someone else, and they all roused.

JC opened the door, and all seven went out into the darkness—five to forage, two to go to the house.

Des closed a hand around JC's and squeezed; JC returned it. This was entirely too terrifying for a gamer geek and a computer tech. But no one else could open the door, and Des was right about his advantages, and they needed the info in that book.

The ground floor was still and dark; they paused repeatedly on the second floor, looking for signs of consciousness.

Darkness and silence from Lloyd's room, the first, and Gord's, on the opposite side and the next down.

Judging by the laboured breathing from within Barry's room, he was awake but too engrossed in his own imagination and his own hand to notice anything else. They traded glances, and JC rolled her eyes. More laundry tomorrow that she wouldn't want to touch. At least if they got caught she wouldn't need to deal with that, probably.

Darkness and silence from Felix's room.

They slunk up the stairs to the third floor.

Outer doors to the suites weren't locked, so getting into Isabel's sitting room was no problem. Two doors opened from it, at right angles on the inner walls, one to her bedroom with its attached bathroom, the other one to her study and her workroom; both outer walls had windows, admitting that faux-moonlight that permeated the night.

JC started on the threads sealing the workroom door, delicately. The design was basically the same, and she'd been getting plenty of practice on their own door, but it still took time.

*Everyone pull together,* Alison said abruptly, startling JC into losing her place and dropping a couple of threads. *I don't think they're hostile, or they'd be attacking us by now, but let's all watch each other's backs, shall we? Des, Jace, we've got half a dozen, well, I assume they're people, but they all look part plant from what I can see. Suzi says yes, they look part plant. And they're particularly interested in Erica. They're all around us, but they don't seem inclined to actually talk to us and we can't exactly start the conversation.*

Des grabbed JC's wrist and jerked her away from the door, over to crouch in the shadows at the end of the couch, half-sheltered by a set of shelves full of nicknacks.

They weren't even quite still when Isabel's bedroom door opened and she came out, yawning. Printed pajama bottoms and a plain short-sleeved top looked entirely too prosaic for someone with so much power over them, more even than her usual jeans, though the flash of the cuff around her wrist was all the reminder needed. She went to one of the sitting room windows, the one nearer her study door.

“Oh, what the hell has them all worked up this time,” she muttered, planting a hand on each side of the window frame. “Probably another fight.” She watched out the window for a moment; JC wondered what she could see. “Animals at this stage.” She heaved a sigh. “Well, that’s a bit too close to the house for comfort. I suppose I'd better go remind them to keep it outside the walls.” She turned back to her bedroom, but left the door open and turned on the light.

*Don't both yell at once,* Alison said. *Isabel's up? Shit. Did she see you? Okay, we're going. She scares me way more than these guys do. Forget the book, get out of there the first chance you get.*

JC had every intention of doing exactly that, and from Des' death-grip on her hand, they were in agreement on that one.

How could Isabel not hear how hard her heart was pounding? Her breathing, at least, she could try to control, keep slow and soundless, despite the cramped position.

With another yawn, Isabel walked right by them, not turning on the sitting room light, and left her suite entirely.

JC started to straighten; Des squeezed her hand warningly.

Straining, JC could barely make out voices downstairs. Oh, just what they needed, was to have someone else awake! Des, eyes closed, tilted his head, maybe to hear better, and after a moment nodded and stood up.

Her human male body, JC thought irrelevantly, would have been complaining about the strain on knees and various muscles it had just experienced, unable to respond quickly now that she needed it to move.

Des kept ahold of her hand, as they slunk down the stairs, pausing on the landing while he listened again. There was light under Felix's door, but it stayed safely closed as they went on, with held breath and thumping hearts.

The temptation to bolt down the stairs and out into the night was powerful; JC forced herself to go slow, trusting Des' senses to alert them to any threat.

They made it to the kitchen door unnoticed.

Des paused there and let go of her hand.

JC blinked, stared at him as he squirmed out of his top and peeled his pants rapidly down over his slender hips, but when he rolled them up tightly and tucked that against his naked body, she understood: the vivid yellow of Des' clothes was the only thing about either that would stand out in the darkness. Without it, they'd be much harder to spot from any distance. Des caught her hand again with his free one and urged her out the door.

And from there, they simply ran.

Reaching their own cage without even being out of breath might have been interesting, if she were less frightened.

They ducked inside, and Des shook out his clothes and wriggled back into them hastily on the way to their sleeping room.

The others had already made it, but not by much from the looks of things. All scrambled to get arranged and lie still, slowing rapid breathing, waiting for the staccato dance of hearts to return to normal. Erica grabbed JC's hand and squeezed it hard, and she squeezed back.

Both let go when they heard the outer door.

We're asleep, JC willed fervently. We're just lying here sound asleep, because we ate your drugged meat, and we haven't moved. Whatever the fuss was, it wasn't us.

It felt like an eternity before she left.

*I don't think I'm hungry,* Alison whispered. *Anybody? Yeah. Let's just stay right here together and figure out something to eat tomorrow.*